This was Jonathan Lewis’ take on his performance yesterday: “I really didn’t feel all that good. I’m not comfortable out there and I haven’t been comfortable out there for most of the season. It’s still pretty early, so I think I can turn it around.”

Lewis was expected to be the ace for Francis Lewis H.S. and one of the best pitchers in the city, but as you can probably deduct from his description, this season – and yesterday’s game against Van Buren – have been a disappointment.

Except that yesterday, the 6-foot, 170-pound senior hurled a three-hit, 11-strikeout shutout to improve his record to 3-1.

The Patriots knocked off Van Buren, 6-0, in six innings in a game that was called due to time limitation at Preller Stadium in Queens. The shutout was Lewis’ third in his last four starts.

“I don’t know exactly what his problem is,” said Lewis head coach Randy James, with a straight face. “Today, he didn’t really have his control or his really good stuff. I haven’t seen that enough this year. He can be dominant and overpowering, but lately he has not been.”

Good Lord, don’t tell that to the rest of the PSAL. Lewis retired the first nine batters he faced yesterday and the 10th, Van Buren’s Amilfka Marshall, reached only because of a passed ball on a third strike.

Lewis allowed his first hit in the fifth and still struck out the side. In fact, the final six outs Lewis recorded were by strikeout. But to listen to the people who usually see him, this game wasn’t particularly impressive.

And given what major league scouts are saying about him, they may have been right. As a junior, Lewis was once clocked as high as 88 mph, but he hasn’t gotten past the mid-80s this year.

“He throws very well,” one scout said. “I’m impressed with everything about him. The pop in his fastball, his control of his offspeed stuff and the way he handles himself on the mound. He’s got a way about him out there that’s unusual for a high school kid.”

Scouts also are impressed with the way he can mow down opponents. In his only defeat this season, a 3-2 decision to a solid Cardozo team, Lewis was hurt more by sloppy play than the Judges’ bats.

Nevertheless, that loss got to him.

“I didn’t expect to lose,” said Lewis, in a matter-of-fact tone. He may go to Stony Brook in the fall, depending on how the draft goes.

“I’m not used to it,” he said. “I don’t expect to lose again.”

It’s that attitude that has struck James, as well as the scouts.

“He’s got a good fastball, a very good curveball,” James said. “But his poise is what sets him apart.”

At least some of Lewis’ success can be traced to his father, Gerald, who has guided his son’s career since coaching him in Little League.

“He’s the one who deserves all the credit,” said James. “He taught him a lot. I’m just reaping the benefits.”

And those are some nice benefits. His fastball has terrific pop and he moves it around well. Mixing in his off-speed pitches – sometimes too much for James’ liking – Lewis has batters chasing all over the place. Yet he only walks about a batter per start.

“A lot of people think he is harder to catch because he throws hard,” said Lewis catcher Adlai Allen. “But it’s easy, because he’s always around the plate.”

But there are drawbacks to being the batterymate of one of the fastest hurlers in the area.

“My hand hurts a lot more after I catch him, I can tell you that,” Allen said. “But it’s worth it. It’s fun to catch someone like him because he’s so good.”